Lent
Lent is the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus’ 40-day fasting and temptation in the desert, and Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the grave after his crucifixion. Lent, then, is generally observed as a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and pray as a way of preparing their hearts for Easter. It is commonly observed by many Christian denominations Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and others although not every Christian church or denomination does so. Because Lent is not officially instituted in Scripture, observing it isn’t in any way a “requirement” of Christianity. However, Christians from many different theological persuasions choose to observe it as a way of focusing their thoughts on Jesus Christ during the Easter season. How does one observe Lent? It differs from person to person and church to church, but some of the things Christians do to observe Lent include:
1. On Ash Wednesday some Christians mark their foreheads with ash as a symbol of sorrow and mourning over their sin.
2. Special worship services, or additions to regular worship services, that focus in various ways on man’s need for repentance. This often takes the form of extra Scripture readings and prayer.
3. Some Christians choose to give up a habit or behavior during Lent as an exercise in prayerful self-denial. This might range from something as simple as not drinking soda during Lent to a full-blown program of fasting.
4. Some Christians commit to a special devotional activity during Lent for example, daily Scripture reading, regular prayer for a specific person or topic throughout Lent.
The choice to observe Lent is a personal one the whole point is to focus your heart and mind on Jesus during the journey to Easter. There’s no requirement to observe it, nor should you feel guilted into participating. However, millions of Christians around the world do observe Lent each year; if you’ve never done so, why not give it a try? Whether you observe Lent in a small or major way, you’ll be amazed at what happens when you devote a part of each day to reflecting on Jesus Christ and God’s word.
We invite you to take a look at our own Lent resources, and to consider other ways that you can deepen your relationship with Jesus over the coming weeks. Whether you call it “Lent observance” or “daily devotions” or anything else, time spent reflecting on Jesus Christ is time well spent!
"Mathew 3 & 4"
Why is PURPLE the color for Lent?
Purple is the symbolic color used in some churches throughout Lent, for banners and altar frontals.
Purple is used for two reasons: First it is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of Jesus before and during his crucifixion. Second purple is the color associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection.”
